Course Overview
This two-day intensive program is designed to equip participants with the skills to build professional, interactive dashboards in Microsoft Excel while incorporating the latest AI-driven capabilities to enhance analytical efficiency and insight communication. The course covers the complete workflow from data preparation and modelling through Power Query and Power Pivot, to developing dynamic visual dashboards using advanced Excel charting tools and interactivity components. Participants will learn how to design dashboards that align with business objectives, communicate performance clearly, and support decision-making through meaningful KPIs and visual storytelling techniques.
In addition to traditional dashboard development, the program emphasizes the integration of AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot to accelerate analysis and automate insights. Participants will explore how AI can generate summaries, provide recommendations, analyse complex datasets, automate formulas, and deliver predictive forecasting capabilities. Real-world case studies will demonstrate how AI strengthens data analysis and dashboard storytelling, transforming raw information into actionable business strategies.
By the end of the training, participants will have hands-on experience building a complete dashboard enhanced with AI-assisted insights and will be confident in presenting data-driven recommendations tailored for management and stakeholders.
Course Objective
By the end of this 2-day program, participants will be able to:
- Identify key KPIs and metrics that support decision-making
- Clean, transform, and consolidate data using Power Query
- Use Power Pivot, star schema relationships, and DAX measures
- Utilize pivot charts, slicers, timelines, and visual hierarchy techniques
- Use Copilot to generate instant analysis, recommendations, and formulas
- Use predictive tools such as Forecast Sheet and trend interpretation
- Craft narrative reporting using AI-generated summaries for management
- Deliver interactive dashboards tailored for stakeholder review
- Build and present a full insight-driven dashboard as final assessment
Target Audience
- Professionals who want to create interactive dashboards
- Data analysts and business analysts
- Managers and decision makers who use data for reporting
- Users transitioning from basic Excel to advanced analytics and AI
Pre-Requisite
Participants should have:
- Basic Excel knowledge (e.g., familiarity with formulas and PivotTables is helpful but not mandatory)
- A laptop with Microsoft Excel 2016 / Office 365 (Power Query & Power Pivot enabled)
- Stable internet connection (for online mode)
- A Microsoft account enabled for Copilot access (if available)
Software & Tools
- Microsoft Excel with Power Query, Power Pivot support
- Excel Copilot (optional, depends on licensing)
- Provided training datasets and dashboard template files
- Supporting resources: exercise workbook, sample dashboards, prompt guide
Trainer Support
- This Live support during hands-on activities
- Post-training assistance (email/WhatsApp for 7 days)
- Access to downloadable reference materials
Assessment
- This Final dashboard project and presentation at end of Day 2
- Individual feedback and improvement recommendations
Course Duration
This course runs for two (2) days.
Methodology
- Instructor-led, step-by-step guided development
- Hands-on exercises with real business datasets
- Final case study dashboard presentation
Course Outline
- Understanding dashboard purpose, structure, and key design principles
- Identifying KPIs, metrics, and decision-based dashboard planning
- Example: KPI comparison dashboard framework.
- Using Power Query for data transformation
- Removing duplicates, merging queries, shaping and appending data
- Data automation workflow setup
- Example: Consolidating multiple worksheet data into a unified table
- Creating Data Model using Power Pivot
- Working with relationships and star schema concepts
- Introduction to Measures & DAX fundamentals
- Example: Creating measures – Total Sales, Profit, YTD Analysis
- Selecting appropriate chart types for insights
- Designing with pivot charts, sparklines, KPIs & advanced formatting
- Layout structure, colour usage, and visual hierarchy
- Example: Visualizing trends vs categorical comparisons
- Slicers, timelines, drop-down selectors & drill-down navigation
- Interactive switching views and dynamic visuals
- Example: Region and product-based analysis dashboard
- Using Excel Copilot for insight generation & formula assistance
- AI-powered data analysis, summary, and automated charts
- Natural language queries for instant reporting
- Example: Ask Copilot: “Identify performance decline and possible causes”
- Using built-in Forecast Sheet tool
- AI-generated trend projection and confidence interval interpretation
- What-If scenario planning supported by Copilot
- Example: Future revenue prediction based on historical trends
- Turning analytics into narratives using Copilot text generation
- Automated summary explanation & business recommendation writing
- Crafting insight-driven commentary for stakeholders
- Example: Auto-generated executive report for final dashboard
- Preparing dashboards for presentation mode
- Linking interactive buttons, navigation flow & storytelling sequence
- Best practices for presenting insights to management
- Example: Management-ready slideshow dashboard presentation
- Real-world dataset and business scenario
- Participants build full dashboard using AI support
- Presentation and feedback session
Itinerary
Time | DAY 1: Excel Dashboard Foundations & Data Modelling |
08:30 AM – 09:00 AM | Participants attendance |
09:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Module 1: Introduction to Excel Dashboards |
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM | Morning Tea Break |
10:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Module 2: Data Cleaning & Preparation |
12:30 PM – 01:30 PM | Lunch Break |
01:30 PM – 03:30 PM | Module 3: Data Modelling & Relationships |
03:30 PM – 03:45 PM | Afternoon Tea Break |
03:45 PM – 05:00 PM | Module 4: Visual Design & Dashboard Components Module 5: Interactivity for Dynamic Dashboard |
05:00 PM | End of Day 1 |
Time | DAY 2: AI-Powered Insights & Advanced Dashboard Storytelling |
08:30 AM – 09:00 AM | Participants attendance |
09:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Module 6: Excel AI Tools for Dashboard Enhancement |
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM | Morning Tea Break |
10:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Module 7: AI-Assisted Forecasting & Predictive Insights |
12:30 PM – 01:30 PM | Lunch Break |
01:30 PM – 03:30 PM | Module 8: AI-Enhanced Data Storytelling |
03:30 PM – 03:45 PM | Afternoon Tea Break |
03:45 PM – 05:00 PM | Module 9: Dashboard Publishing & Presentation Module 10: Final Case Study & Showcase |
05:00 PM | End of Day 2 |
